The Nuvis is the eleventh signature concept car to be designed at the company’s California Design Center in Irvine, Calif. In addition to showcasing the brand’s cutting-edge capabilities, Nuvis also hints at a possible design direction for a future-generation crossover, blending attributes of a tall urban car and a premium utility vehicle.

Consistent with Hyundai’s pledge to lead all brands in U.S. fuel economy by 2015, Nuvis is powered by Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive architecture, which uses breakthrough lithium polymer battery technology.

EVOLUTION OF THE DESIGN

In developing the initial sketches, Hyundai designers considered the interplay of natural, fluid elements with more rigid surfaces and structures to create the illusion of constant motion. Specifically, designers studied the way water splits across and flows around the hull and sides of a boat, creating a wake, or the way wind shapes a snowdrift or flurries through trees. The living power of these elements is reflected in the Nuvis’ design.

“Our goal was to create a living machine, constantly moving, that the driver and passengers could be part of,” said John Krsteski, Hyundai Design manager. “There are no lines on or in this car that are standing still.”

In addition to invoking the impression of irrepressible motion, the Hyundai design team took more practical matters into account as well. Nuvis is designed to accommodate the diverse interests of a modern, active couple. The Nuvis is meant to be comfortable starting its day at a desert retreat, arriving at the ski slopes in the afternoon and then cruising to a formal dinner that evening.
The design team sought to create a vehicle that would complement its environment, without making a negative impact. The versatility of the vehicle’s design, combined with Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive technology, accomplishes exactly this.

EXTERIOR DESIGN

The Nuvis has an assertive face demonstrated by the strong, hour-glass shape that frames the blue acrylic shield grille and aggressive headlamps, whose two glowing white rings are offset by a pair of red rings on the tail lights.

Perched on top of 22-inch wheels, Nuvis’ proportions are tall, strong and protective. The two body-side lines set up a flowing water effect, giving the appearance of motion.

In addition to the dynamic angles and firm stance, the Nuvis boasts a host of unique exterior elements.

“One of the coolest attributes of Nuvis is that the protective roof appears to float on top of the body through the use of hidden pillars and high-contrast glass,” said Andre Hudson, Hyundai senior designer. “This effect starts at the headlamps and is carried all the way through to the taillights producing a tall, strong body-side and rear.”
Large, gull-wing doors, either opened or closed, create unique front, rear and profile views. Blue ambient lighting cast across the body adds to the overall upscale feel of the vehicle.

An additional design element featured on the Nuvis is a brushed aluminum accent that spans the entire length of the vehicle. Normally, this type of trim is only found around the windows. On the Nuvis, this trim extends out from the headlamps, juts up along the hood and through the beltline, across the top and into the rear spoiler.

INTERIOR DESIGN

In keeping with the exterior design scheme, the Nuvis’ spacious and luxurious interior is dominated by a cool, blue acrylic center stack that ebbs and surges in the manner of a river. The cascading floor, with its blue ambient lighting, further enhances an environment in which seamless technology flows, enveloping both the driver and passengers.

A current of information coming from the instrument panel streams throughout the cockpit, as passengers are able to access each other via Methode Electronics TouchSense® technology that links all four business-class seats. The car’s infotainment system is fed by channels from the outside – the occupants, for instance, can learn of a restaurant’s specials that evening as they drive past it.

The sculptured, comfortable seats are custom woven with a graduated fabric that is finished in a silver-to-black sunburst. The ecologically friendly seating fabric is provided by True Textiles, the industry’s leading provider of environmentally responsible textile solutions. The Nuvis fabric is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester – reclaimed soda bottles – and increasingly sustainable manufacturing processes. Hyundai collaborated with True Creative to produce this unique fabric with an 80-inch repeat, providing a fabric that is as attractive to the environment as it is to the viewer. The matching seatbelts are provided by Harveys Original Seatbeltbags, a well- known manufacturer of handbags made out of seatbelt. Harveys also developed two matching handbags for the Nuvis concept.

In the rear, a high trunk floor houses the Nuvis’ lithium polymer battery pack.

HYUNDAI’S HYBRID BLUE DRIVE ARCHITECTURE

Hyundai’s all-new, homegrown Hybrid Blue Drive architecture helps define the Nuvis concept. Hyundai’s proprietary parallel hybrid drive system mates the already-fuel efficient 2.4-liter Theta II engine to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW (205 N-m) electric motor for maximum fuel economy.

Hybrid Blue Drive has an all-electric mode and a parallel drive mode, meaning that the wheels are turned by power coming directly from the gasoline engine, or the electric motor, or both together, as conditions demand. This parallel hybrid drive architecture will serve as the foundation for future Hyundai hybrid drive vehicles, starting with the next-generation Sonata in the United States.

To maximize fuel economy, all of the Theta II’s major driveline and cooling system components have been optimized to reduce friction, while the crankcase has been filled with low friction oil.

Engine management software automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a halt, cutting emissions to zero. The engine automatically restarts when pressure is reapplied to the accelerator pedal due to the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG).
To further reduce fuel consumption, the Theta II’s engine management software, which governs injection pressure, engine cycle timing and exhaust retreatment rates, has been revised. This control strategy assures that maximum efficiency is achieved during gentle acceleration, while greater power is immediately available during full acceleration. During deceleration, regenerative braking also comes into play to help conserve energy.

To ensure that the engine runs at lower RPMs, the top three gear ratios in the transmission have been extended. Fuel economy is further optimized through the latest electric motor-assisted steering system which reduces power drain and low resistance tires.
The nine major components of Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive include:
1.An efficient 30kW electric motor, delivering 205 N-m of torque
2.A regenerative braking system
3.An integrated starter generator that enables the engine to turn off at stops and restart automatically under acceleration
4.A breakthrough lithium polymer battery package, with 5.3 Ah of capacity at 270 volts
5.Optimized Theta II 2.4-liter engine
6.6-speed automatic transmission with an improved-efficiency electric oil pump
7.Weight-efficient architecture coupled with a low drag coefficient
8.Electric air conditioning compressor
9.Hybrid power control unit

LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERY TECHNOLOGY

Hyundai’s hybrid system stores its electrical charge in a 270V lithium polymer rechargeable battery (5.3Ah/270V) that surpasses both existing nickel-metal hydride and pending lithium-ion applications. Lithium polymer batteries are more durable and
space-efficient than other, bulkier hybrid batteries.

HYUNDAI ASSURANCE

Hyundai Assurance allows consumers to walk away from a financing obligation when certain adverse life events occur, providing protection from financial shortfalls that arise from vehicle depreciation (negative equity) up to $7,500. For a limited time, Hyundai is also offering Hyundai Assurance Plus, adding 90 days of payment relief to the existing protection plan. Hyundai Assurance Plus is part of Hyundai’s Spring Sales Event, which runs until April 30, 2009. Hyundai Assurance and Hyundai Assurance Plus are complimentary for the first 12 months of the financing or lease date for vehicles financed through any lender or financing source. The programs supplement all existing consumer incentives, and are available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment history or financed amount of the vehicle. Visit www.HyundaiUSA.com for details.

“Today’s announcement puts the Genesis Coupe into three great motorsports series,” said John Krafcik, acting president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “We like to refer to the Genesis Coupe as the sinister sibling to the North American Car of the Year, the Genesis sedan and we look forward to Rhys harnessing every ounce of energy in the Coupe as he campaigns it.”

Millen and his team are an ideal match to launch Hyundai’s racing efforts. Millen’s driving credentials include movie stunts, multiple drifting championships, a Pikes Peak world record and his recent New Year’s Eve Las Vegas truck flip. But behind Millen’s success in the driver’s seat is a full team of engineers and fabricators that know how to maximize the potential of a race car.

Millen had his first opportunity to test drive the Genesis Coupe’s performance credentials when he performed precision driving for the car’s debut advertising campaign. Millen flogged a Genesis Coupe for three days during the filming process at Road Atlanta racetrack, and the car never missed a beat.

“The Genesis Coupe Concept inspired me to seek out a relationship with Hyundai and it has developed into multiple projects,” said Millen, professional race driver and founder of RMR. “The immediate focus is developing the RMR Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe into a drift car with a 550-horsepower engine and a lightweight, rigid chassis. We are applying everything we know about fabricating into building this car.”

THE CHASSIS BUILD

Six RMR employees have already stripped a Genesis Coupe to bare metal and the chassis has spent five days in an Alkali bath removing all rubber and adhesives. The chassis has also been stitch welded for added structural rigidity.

CARBON FIBER BODY PANELS

Millen quickly decided to take the already light weight Genesis Coupe and make it even lighter. His crew will take the molds used to build the “Art of Speed” SEMA car to once again replicate the Genesis Coupe’s body out of carbon fiber. The hood, deck lid, roof, doors, fenders, front fascia and side skirts are all built out of carbon fiber. The carbon fiber panels range from 50 percent to 80 percent lighter than the sheet metal they replaced. For example, a factory Hyundai Genesis Coupe door weighs 68 pounds but modifications made by RMR reduce the door weight to just 8.5 pounds. This weight-saving approach is carried throughout the car without compromising its powerful curves, surface detail and “Z” bodyside line.

The side skirts have functional flat rocker panels with ducts to pull air out from underneath the car. A functional splitter on the front fascia and a built-in diffuser create pressure without drag. A rear diffuser with long tunnels keeps the air moving underneath the car. Downforce has been further increased by an APR GTC-500 rear wing that is fully adjustable and was designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The hood is vented to dissipate heat and Aerocatch hood latches are used for safety.

The rear widebody fenders are also made out of carbon fiber and blend seamlessly into the vehicle design with a creative painting concept. The goal curb for the car is 2,400 pounds.

INTERIOR

The interior of the RMR Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe is unrecognizable from its origins as a well-appointed 2+2 coupe designed with everyday driving in mind. All comfort and convenience features are removed to make way for a custom-fabricated eight-point safety cage and firewall which reinforce the Genesis Coupe’s already stiff chassis. By removing the roof, the RMR fabricators welded every aspect of the safety cage to the frame of the car. The braces on the A and B pillars also tie into the strength of the body. The safety cage is required for racing and a single Sparco racing seat further protects the driver in the overhauled cockpit.

SUSPENSION

The RMR Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe utilizes a KW remote reservoir three-way adjustable coilover suspension. Adjustable chro-moly sway bars dial the suspension in further for true track performance. RMR also fabricated adjustable lower control arms, rear control arms and toe links to allow precise tuning of the chassis.

ENGINE AND TURBO KIT

The Hyundai Lambda 3.8-liter V6 engine, which comes standard on the Genesis Coupe 3.8, will be stroked to 4.1-liters and further enhanced by a Turbonetics turbocharger. An AEM engine management system will also be used. The engine will be mated to a HKS sequential transmission. The end result is a Genesis Coupe that will produce 550 horsepower and 520 lb.-ft. of torque.

WHEELS, TIRES AND BRAKES

To ensure that the enhanced power plant translates all the way to road performance, RMR added 18- by 8.5-inch front and 18- by 9.5-inch rear Enkei RPF1 light weight wheels and 225/40-18 Toyo Proxes R1R front tires and 265/40 Toyo Proxes R1R rear tires.

PAINT SCHEME

The paint scheme is a combination of blue, silver and unpainted black carbon fiber with its signature weave pattern.

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS

· Toyo Tires
· Genius Tools
· Sparco
· Royal Purple
· Turbonetics
· APR Performance
· KW Suspension
· AEM
· BC ( Brian Crower)
· Exedy
· Enkei Wheels
· JE Pistons
· The Driveshaft Shop.

RHYS MILLEN – DRIVER, OWNER RMR

With more than 16 years of racing experience, Rhys Millen has established himself as one of the premier rally/drifting drivers in North America. Born in New Zealand in 1972, Rhys is the son of famed rally and off-road racer Rod Millen. Rhys joined Rod in the U.S. as a teenager and soon afterwards established himself as racer by taking first at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the Open Division and winning Rookie of the Year. He won the Formula Drift championship in 2005 and was runner-up in 2006.

RHYS MILLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS – 2008

· Red Bull Drifting World Championship winner
· Pikes Peak Time Attack 2-Wheel Drive Champion (set new world record)

RHYS MILLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS – 2007

· Pikes Pike Time Attack Champion
· First Place – Long Beach Team Drift
· Second Place – Formula Drift, New Jersey
· Third Place – Formula Drift, West Virginia

RHYS MILLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS – 2006

· Formula Drift Champion Runner-Up
· Formula Drift Tires.com Triple Crown Champion

RHYS MILLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS – 2005

· Formula Drift Champion
· First Place – Formula Drift, New Jersey
· Second Place – Formula Drift, Irwindale

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of South Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 780 dealerships nationwide.

Blue-WILL’s front end is ferocious – reminding many of the Hyundai Tiburon coupe. Does it look like the car is smirking at us?  Check out more info in the Hyundai Press Release below, and during our upcoming Seoul Auto Show live photos!

Hyundai BLUE-WILL

Hyundai charges in with advanced hybrid concept:
- All-new concept car to be unveiled at Seoul Show
- Lithium-Ion batteries and a 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine
- Solar panels boost battery range

Hyundai has revealed the first pictures of an innovative plug-in hybrid concept car. Due to be revealed at the Seoul Motor Show which opens on April 2nd, the “BLUE-WILL”, has exceptionally advanced technology crammed inside its striking body shell.

Recycled PET soft drink bottles were used to make the material for the headlamp bezels while use has also been made of bio-plastics: PLA for the interior while PA11 was specified for the engine cover. These materials are made from plants extract rather than fossil fuels and are bio-degradable.

The BLUE-WILL concept is powered by an all-aluminum Gasoline Direct Injected 1.6-litre engine which is coupled to a Continuously Variable Transmission and a 100kw electric motor which is at the heart of Hyundai’s parallel hybrid drive architecture. Electric power, stored by a Lithium Ion Polymer battery pack, is neatly bundled with the fuel tank under the rear seat to maximize luggage space.

Hyundai will be the first automaker in the world to apply Lithium Ion Polymer in a mass production vehicle when the Elantra LPI Hybrid goes on sale in Korea in July this year.

A further expression of the concept’s design flexibility is found on the panoramic roof. The glass area integrates dye-sensitized solar cells which can generate power for the batteries from the sun without impeding visibility. Further details of the concept will be revealed at a press conference on Hyundai’s stand at the Seoul show.

Hyundai i20 3dr World Debut

Building on the success of the recently launched Hyundai i20 five-door, the Geneva Motor Show is host to the world premiere of the new three-door i20 derivative. The chic and versatile i20, which replaced the Getz, made its debut at the 2008 Paris Mondial de l’Automobile and is playing an important role in expanding the popularity of the Hyundai brand in Europe.

With the introduction of a new three-door model, Hyundai will broaden the i20’s appeal to the fastest-growing automotive customer base in Europe. Targeted at young professionals without children, seeking excellent quality, high specifications and affordable motoring, the three-door model offers a new, lower price entry point for the i20 line-up. When it goes on sale in the second quarter of 2009, the i20 three-door will become the best-value variant in the i20 range.

Furthermore, i20 three-door boasts seven Euro IV-compliant petrol and diesel engines offering remarkable fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions. Notably, the 1.2-litre, 78 PS ‘Kappa’ petrol engine uses just 5.2l/100km on the combined cycle and has a CO2 rating of 124g/km. Adding to Hyundai’s class-leading value package is the 75 PS 1.4-litre diesel engine, with a CO2 rating of 116g/km and consumption of 4.4l/100km on the combined cycle. Customers will also benefit from Hyundai’s unlimited mileage three-year warranty.

Positioned between the successful i10 and i30 models, the i20 continues the distinctive visual characteristics of the Hyundai i-range, comprising the bold chrome-finished grille, flanked by piercing teardrop headlamps and complimented by prominent rear light clusters. Sharing many of its styling features with the five-door i20, the front and rear of the three-door model remain unchanged. The distinctive crease lines that run along the side are enhanced by the longer front doors and sporty, upswept shape of the rear-side window. To suit all tastes, the i20 is available in 10 solid and metallic exterior colours.

Built on the same 2,525mm wheelbase and weighing 10-kilograms less than the i20 five-door, the three-door offers an equally well proportioned exterior and spacious interior that will effortlessly accommodate adult passengers in the front and rear seats. The larger front doors create a wide entry aperture, and Hyundai’s quick-release memory seats with walk-in functionality provide easy access to and from the rear seats. The system enables the front-seat backrests to be tipped and the whole seat to slide forwards. This simple-to-use system returns the front seat to the originally selected position without the need for readjustment.

All three trim levels – Classic, Comfort and Style – offered on the five-door will be available on the i20 three-door as well. They combine generous standard equipment and safety features that surpass the competition. Matching the five-door variant, the three-door model features high-end kit such as climate control, multi-function steering wheel, keyless entry and electrically-operated windows and side mirrors. The modern radio/CD system is MP3-compatible and has four powerful speakers; the rear two speakers are repositioned in the three-door model to the interior rear quarter panels.

Safety is always at the forefront for Hyundai and the i20 has an extensive list of active and passive equipment. This includes six airbags – front, side and curtain – as standard, active head-restraints, front seatbelt pretensioners, the latest-generation anti-lock brakes, Electronic Stability Control, and Electronic Brake force- Distribution.

Kappa engine shines in i20

Hyundai expects i20 buyers will make the 1.2-litre petrol engine – dubbed ‘Kappa’ – the best-selling power plant in the range. The new, all-alloy unit is the result of a 48-month development project, and combines miserly fuel consumption with low CO2 emissions to produce a compelling package with reduced running costs, compared to rival products.

Kappa is the latest example of the company’s expertise in developing lightweight, low-NVH, super-efficient engines, and follows the ‘Tau’ 4.6-litre V8, which was named one of the 10 best engines of 2009 by automotive publisher Ward’s.

With a displacement of just 1,248cc, the 16-valve, DOHC Kappa unit develops an impressive 78 PS at 6,000rpm and a class-leading torque figure of 119Nm at 4,000rpm, endowing i20 with responsive acceleration and excellent driveability. The engine’s specific torque figure also puts it well ahead of the competition.

Vehicle performance and efficiency are aided by the fact that Kappa’s dry weight is just 82.4kg – lighter than any other petrol engine of similar capacity. In addition, a number of steps have been taken to reduce friction and improve refinement, including the application of an innovative offset crankshaft. Just as impressive is the minimal level of noise at idle which, combined with the high-quality NVH rating achieved by Kappa in i20, further demonstrates Hyundai’s engineering know-how.